Minnesota Scene: Judge dismisses most discrimination claims by three former UMD coaches

A federal judge dismissed most claims in a discrimination lawsuit brought against the University of Minnesota Board of Regents by three former women's sport coaches at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

In a ruling issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz rejected claims brought by Jen Banford, the former softball coach and women's hockey director of operations, and Annette Wiles, the former women's basketball coach. UMD had requested the summary judgment at an October hearing in Minneapolis.

Schiltz also dismissed claims by former women's hockey coach Shannon Miller with the exception of her claims that UMD both discriminated and retaliated against her on the basis of gender when it decided not to renew her contract.

Those remaining claims will be decided by a jury.

In late 2014, UMD declined to renew Miller's contract. In September 2015, the three women sued the regents, alleging discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation and national origin.

Banford and Wiles had quit their jobs a few months after Miller's contract wasn't renewed. All claimed they faced a hostile work environment.

According to the Duluth News Tribune, Tim Pramas, the U's senior associate general counsel, issued a statement following Thursday's ruling:

Jahmile Addae was named the Gophers defensive backs coach Thursday.

Addae, who spent the past two seasons coaching Arizona's secondary, replaces Maurice Linguist, who left in January to become Texas A&M's cornerbacks coach.

Addae, 35, a four-year starter and three-time All-Big East defensive back at West Virginia, spent the past five seasons at Arizona, the first three as an analyst and the past two as defensive backs coach.

The native of Tampa, Fla., had the west coast of Florida and Las Vegas as his primary recruiting areas while with Arizona.